AUM British Building Campus Universitari by Edwin Mintoff is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award d'Aur in Patrimòni Cultural Competition Category.
AurPatrimòni Cultural· 2020
AUM British Building Campus Universitari
Client: Aum
A' Design Award d'Aur Winner in Patrimòni Cultural Category
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The Design
About AUM British Building Campus Universitari
AUM British Building es un campus universitari creat dins un bastiment patrimonial del sègle XIX a Senglea. Lo bastiment foguèt grèvament damatjat pendent la Segonda Guèrra Mondiala e tombèt puèi en desús. La materialitat istorica foguèt restaurada amb suènh, e l'estructura foguèt reabilitada per un usatge contemporanèu. Lo campus conten de salas de classa, de laboratòris, de burèus, una bibliotèca, un jardin interior e una cafetariá que demòra dobèrta al public. De materials contemporanèus foguèron causits per demorar visualament distints de la materialitat originala. Los servicis aparents e las bigas d'acièr rivetadas remembran lo passat industrial.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award d'Aur
AUM British Building Campus Universitari a ganhat la distincion A' Design Award d'Aur, una reconeissença immensament prestigiosa acordada a de designs de primièra qualitat, meravilhoses e excellents. Los ganhaires de l'Aur son de creacions extrèmament innovantas, visionàrias e esbleugissentas, que reflectisson lo prodigi, la sabença e la proeça de lors designers. S'espèra que AUM British Building Campus Universitari siá una invencion fòrça lausada, que dintra de tendéncias e monumentala, que provesís un valor sens precedent. Aqueste design ganhaire de la distincion A' Design Award d'Aur es un projècte espectaclós e respectat, que fa un grand ben e fa avançar las frontièras de l'art, de la sciéncia, del design e de la tecnologia. AUM British Building Campus Universitari crea de sentiments intensos de desirs, evòca la passion, encoratja la creativitat e fascina.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This 19th century building was severely damaged during WWII and later fell into disuse. Through EM Architects' design interventions, the building was brought back to life with a renewed purpose to serve Senglea in a new way. As well as restoring the historic fabric in a meticulous fashion, the overall building was also rehabilitated in order to usher the building into the current age whilst at the same time managing to showcase its stunning historic elements. The guiding principle behind this project remained the act of showcasing this heritage building as a protagonist of design.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Building is 19.6 high, 194m wide, 15.6m deep
- Tags
- Restoration, rehabiliation, heritage, industrial, university
- Production Technology
- Contemporary materials were chosen purposely so as to be visually distinguishable from the original historic fabric. This distinction is essential in order to delineate the contemporary interventions within the important timeline of this building. At its inception, this building was born out of golden Globigerina Limestone and raw steel elements, showcasing the fusion between the British Neo-Classical style and local quarried materials.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge of this project presented itself in the form of an existing dilapidated building, whereby its extensive character and value had been left to decay. The means by which this challenge was overcome was by successfully ushering this building into the contemporary age whilst also preserving and highlighting its original character. New volumes had to be created within and onto the existing historical fabric which was no small challenge.
- Research
- Our design began with analyzing the past history and also current situation of the area, to ensure that the restoration of such buildings would also serve to accelerate the urban regeneration of the entire area. Various historical documents, for example the text "The Malta Grand Harbour and Its Dockyard" by Bonnici and Cassar and drawings were analysed, including maps dating back to the 1840s.
- Inspiration
- The building's rich industrial past served as the main source of inspiration which informed the majority of design decisions taken throughout the design process. This was reflected in the intentionally exposed services of the building. The selection of raw materials and the choice to retain original structural elements, such as the voltini ceilings and the exposed riveted steel beams, emphasised this industrial feel. Another integral factor which shaped the restoration and rehabilitation of this historic building was the harnessing of sustainable initiatives in various forms.
- Project Duration
- Works at Triq Dom Mintoff, Bormla, commenced in November 2016 and were completed by March 2019.
- Operation Flow
- Our design incorporated the creation of 13 classrooms, 4 laboratories, 1 cafeteria, 1 library, 18 offices, 1 internal garden and 2 receptions, through minor alterations and the construction of additional floors. The cafeteria, which ensures that part of the building remains accessible to the public, also houses the restored original machinery of the building, thus incorporating these historical elements seamlessly within the new contemporary designs.
- Team Members
- Edwin Mintoff
Pietro Di Raimondo
Mario Scicluna - Image Credits
- Photographer: Alan Carville
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